KoreaScouter

As a parent of both a Boy Scout and a Girl Scout (Juniors), I think there are more similarities in the two programs than we generally give them credit for (life skills, leadership, responsibility, citizenship, etc.). As in most efforts, the degree to which those messages get delivered depend on the volunteer leaders. I've been in the GS material in some detail at the Brownie and Junior levels, and went through some of their leader training, too. Although they seem to be a bit more hamstrung by rules than we are, there are similarities if you scratch below the surface. That said, GS do not consider the uniform a method of delivering the program, and within each program level, there are many more uniform options than in BSA, including no uniform at all. Those of us accustomed to a BSA Court of Honor with all the Scouts similarly attired, visit a comparable GS event and they look like a bunch of contras, all in some semblance of a uniform but no two dressed alike. Again, it's not an issue for GS, since the uniform isn't a program delivery method. KS

MK: Your approach to partials, changing requirements, and which set of requirements a Scout is held to, is in fact BSA policy. If a Scout is working on a MB, and the requirements change after he begins working on it, he may complete the badge using the new requirements, or the old ones, at his discretion. KS

If this is the same thing he's referring to, there were arrests of several (as many as 7 I think) persons in Northern Virginia and Pennsylvania yesterday or the day before. They have alleged links to AQ and were conducting a variety of pre-operational activities in locales around Northern Virginia. Three of the individuals had some military experience (not specified in the newspaper article I read, but it seemed to indicate they were former Army), and were using paintball equipment to teach small-team tactics to other members of the cell without such experience. I believe they were Muslim, too. Yes, they were arrested. Yes, they were among other things playing paintball (although that was the tip of the iceberg). Yes, three of them had been in the military but were not at the time of their arrests. And, yes, they were Muslims. And, so what? First, the anti-terrorism community gets beat up for not intercepting and stopping the 9/11 terrorists, now it gets beat up for intercepting and perhaps stopping the next attack. What do they call that again..."damned if you do, damned if you don't"? KS

To piggyback on the Wright Brothers thread, lotsa milestones this year, and here's one more. On July 27th, 1953, the cease fire that began the Korean War Armistice was signed at Panmunjom. The United Nations Command is planning a huge commemoration next month, with activities at PMJ and at Yongsan Garrison in Seoul. Hundreds of Korean War veterans, their wives, and family members are making the trip at the invitation of the Korean Government, U.S. Forces Korea, and various veterans' groups both in Korea and the U.S. For many of these vets, this trip will be the first time they've been back since the war. Many were brutalized as POWs, many Medal of Honor recipients will be there, and many of these elderly and largely overlooked vets are profoundly affected by injuries they suffered in combat...the logistics of caring for these aging heroes during the hottest, most humid time of the year is staggering. If you know a Korean War veteran, please circle July 27th on your calendar and remember to thank him, especially if he's unable to make the trip. He'll appreciate it, and it'll be the closest thing to a parade he ever got. KS

You can still get them; if your council service center doesn't have any, you can get them from the catalog. A couple cautions on those things. First, they only fit about 45 Scouts...if your troop is larger than that, you'll need two. Second, you can't get all the MBs on them if a Scout has more than 36, and that's with all the Palms filled in, too. Third, they're a great graphic reference, but somebody's gotta keep it up. When your NSP moves to permanent patrols, Scouts move away, or new Scouts transfer in, it'll start getting ratty-looking unless you strip it and start over completely -- serious arts/crafts project. It'd be great if there were some sort of Excel-type spreadsheet you could print out and pop in there under the column headings, and it'd all match up -- TroopMaster, are you listening? KS

My, we've certainly gotten testy while I was moving and away from a computer!! U.S. airliners also display the flag on the right (starboard?) sides of their fuselages with the star field to the right -- same rationale, it's moving forward. Been that way for years, as I recall. The "flag-on-the-right-sleeve" versus the left where the stars would be on the "correct" side was originally Army-driven, because they wear organizational patches on their left sleeves already...too crowded over there. Tempest in a teapot, if you ask me... KS

I earned my black belt in Tae Kwon Do at the Kukkiwon, in Seoul, Korea, in 1992, under a Korean master instructor. I studied under him for the better part of another year, but was not considered ready to test for my 2nd degree (mostly by me, but by him, too). While in Europe, I taught, as a volunteer, free TKD classes on our base to Americans and Dutch, adults and kids. I did this with another TKD black belt, a Dutch fire fighter by profession. I provide that background so you'll know through what color lenses I see the MA world. I don't get involved in arguments over what style is best. In fact, in the many instances I've been asked by a prospective student which style they should study, I usually reply with the one whose studio is closest to their house. They're usually surprised, until I explain that any legitimate style will provide cardiovascular fitness, balance, strength, self-confidence, flexibility, and attitude in a serious student. That's true whether it's any of the "-do's", grappling arts, western boxing, eastern styles, what have you. The only "limiting" advice I give is that if a family anticipates moving, I recommend a style that is taught and practiced around the world so that they can stick with it if they like it. I also don't think there's an absolute minimum age for kids to begin studying. You have to assess each kid based on his/her ability to concentrate for the duration of the class, follow directions, and participate without undue risk of injury. Some five year olds are ready, and some 25 year olds aren't! Junior black belt candidates in TKD (WTF anyway, ITF may be different -- I was WTF-affiliated) are not expected to perform to adult standards, and as others have indicated, they must re-test for an adult black belt. That said, the techniques, forms, and their application are identical for both adult and junior students. The only differences I made in my instructional methods between adults and juniors is that I did not permit youth to spar with adults (self-defense and break-holds excepted), or break anything harder than a balloon or block of styrofoam before they were 16. For kids, breaking is an exercise in focus and concentration -- their skeletal structures aren't sufficiently developed to break boards, bricks, roof tiles, or any of that other nonsense. In my view, a youth with a junior black belt is no different in his skill level and commitment than an all-star baseball or soccer player, an accomplished youth musician, or an honor student. He's set a goal, dedicated the time and effort to reach it, and deserves consideration for what he's accomplished. KS

This is a bit of a carryover from the "This Scout has Legions of Merits" thread. I guess I'm curious about which Eagle-required MBs the Scouts in your Troops earn first, and last. Why only Eagle-required? Common reference; everybody has to earn them. Me first, I guess, and this is not scientific. First one: First Aid. Last one: Personal Management. Why? Our 1st Year Scouts tend to complete First Aid at their first summer camp while completing First Class Trail. Personal Management is the least fun, and tends to get put off 'till the end; plus, calls for a maturity level not normally present in a 10 1/2 year old lad. As an aside, the most popular electives for us are the crafts badges, followed closely by Aviation (mostly Air Force kids, and we can get them in the air almost at will). KS

If the dad did the bulk of the work, remember that the Scoutmaster "bats last" with the SM conference and signing off the Scout Spirit requirement. KS

CaptainRon; My home computer's boxed up and on its way to Hawaii. I'm doing all this from the library, or the business center at the hotel we're in temporarily. Our Scouts (and one ASM) got back very late on Tuesday. On the down side, two of our five didn't complete the Ordeal. My son and the other two who did complete it were beaming when they stepped off the bus; he was exhausted, hungry, and badly in need of a shower. But, as he told me the next morning, when he used to just show up for summer camp, he took for granted the work that went into the setup and preparation...not any more. KS

Having patrol campsites without them on top of each other helps us. We've had to camp in "compact" sites where we're lined up like in a refugee camp, and it's horrible -- one body sound just after lights out and then every dog in the neighborhood's barking. Also, our tents are large enough for just two Scouts and their gear, so the "divide and conquer" principle applies, too. A little realism helps; we set lights-out times consistent with the next day's activities and their maturity/responsibility, too -- green bars can stay up a little later. We don't object to conversation in the tents after lights-out, as long as it's not disturbing anyone else. We've tried variations on all the other techniques as well. But only up to a point -- they're always going to have difficulty falling asleep on order, the first night of a campout. In my SM conferences, all my Scouts have consistently told me that camping is their favorite part of the program -- it's what keeps them coming to meetings. They're so happy and excited to be there rather than in school or looking at their little sisters, or trying on new clothes, that their excitement overwhelms them. I grew up in a city, and when I was a Scout, camping to me meant getting away from that, and being manly, too. We swung axes, lit fires, stalked critters, cooked stuff we could eat with our fingers, and so on. I could barely contain myself on the way to camp, and often didn't that first night. Fortunately, my Scoutmaster and our other leaders understood this then, and I appreciate it now. It's funny, I've heard and often followed the "no sugar before lights-out" approach. Except when we cold-weather camp; at Klondike in January, they thought I was kidding when we added extra Hershey bars to their food lists. But, right before they crawl in their sacks, PLs are passing them out and telling their Scouts to eat, the whole thing, right now, no questions asked. A step closer to Heaven, they were. KS

Come to think of it, DO enchiladas were a big hit, too, and very simple to prepare. I've made them in my cardboard box oven as well -- excellent results there, too. SilverShark; have you suggested that your Roundtable Commissioner take a look at the Cooking MB Pamphlet? It has everything you said he's looking for (at least, the old one did before the requirements changed last year). Our troop has a copy of it in a plastic sleeve in every patrol box. KS

I think it's a foul call if the District Advancement Committee rejects a completed project after they approved the proposal. That assumes of course, that the completed project met the spirit and intent of the proposal. Even if the Advancement Committee membership changes between proposal and completion, anything approved by the previous regime should be "grandfathered" -- a tie goes to the Scout. This is another great argument for not waiting until the last minute to complete Eagle requirements. In my experience, these types of shenanigans are more likely to occur under time pressure. "Hurry-up-and-get-it-done-itis" produces the 2-page proposals, project changes that always seem to result in less rather than more effort/results, and some parents and (sadly) leaders doing Machiavellian things to "pop out" another Eagle Scout. Some of this is attributable to misunderstandings, too. It's the Scout's first and only Eagle project, ditto for his family, in most cases too. When one of our Life Scouts is ready to begin his project, we assign an experienced Scouter to him as a coach/advisor. This person helps keep him on track, prevents him from spinning his wheels, and helps him stay focused on a process that can be confusing. KS

Hey, here's another thought. I don't mean to insult the guy's intelligence, but does he have the thing right-side-up? On the TAR pads my son and I use (CampRest models), the bottom is brown... (reminds me of an old landscaping joke; punchline: "...green side up!") KS

Genuine Therm-a-rest pads normally don't have an overly slippery surface. If the pad combined with the bag is creating a problem, there's a solution that's cheaper than buying a new bag you can slide the pad into. Consider the elastic straps with the garter belt-type fasteners many people use to keep their bed sheets from popping off of their mattresses. Clip them on the corners of your bag in a non-destructive fashion, and run them around the bottom of your pad. Unless you flop around like a marlin on a hook, they should hold. These things are at the store for about five bucks. KS

I agree that the "suitability" issue is something for the CO to determine. Obviously, some will care, some won't. I've been known to raise a glass now and then, and listen to rock music, too...I'll bet there are COs out there that wouldn't let me clean their meeting room, let alone help deliver their program. I don't think most families choose a troop based on the character/suitability standards of the CO...if they're even aware there's a CO or what their role is. Presumably, many are surprised and perhaps uncomfortable, depending on their personal and religious beliefs. I also think there's a difference between a single mother and an unwed one. My mom was a single mother because my dad died when I was 4; not because she chose to get pregnant before she got married. Let's define our terms before we nominate somebody for sainthood. Yes, it's a matter of personal choice, and while I certainly hope my 10-year old daughter doesn't make the same choice when she's 18 (and we reinforce the values all the time), the abortion option is certainly worse in my view, and many use it as birth control. I don't think there should be any difference between males and females when it comes to the stigma and negative connotation of unwed teenage parenthood. One thing that would make me uncomfortable as a leader and a parent is having an unwed teenage mom in our midst, pretending it's perfectly normal and okay, and watching the teenage Scouts in our troop soaking this up...then, after tacitly endorsing it on the one hand, we expect them to not do it themselves on the other. Here's your cake, now don't eat it. Not to be catty about this, but maybe instead of Venturing, she should have been in Girl Scouts. Say what you will about the program, its focus, the price of the cookies, or whatever. But, I can tell you this as the father of a Girl Scout, their attention and focus on the girls' self esteem and self image reinforces positive values and, I think, helps reduce the chances of them needing to feel important and grown up by becoming a mom before they're ready for it. Good luck, Matua...you're going to need it. KS

120 degrees? Lessee, two options come to mind: 1). Stay indoors. 2). Move someplace else. All kidding aside, the temperature sensitivity with different fuel types is, as far as I know, related only to cold temps, not hot ones. Seriously, I don't know how you guys stand it in that heat. I grew up in Minnesota, and the first time I had to go to Nevada for duty-related reasons, I couldn't believe it (it was in July). I wasn't hanging out in casinos, but was checking exterior security systems at Air Force restricted areas -- we had to start at 4:00 a.m. and quit by noon or we would have been jerkied by 2:00 p.m. If anyone had suggested cooking anything outside, I would have directed them to the nearest flat rock... KS

Literature pretty consistently recommends 25% of body weight as a max pack weight. That can be difficult to get to with smaller boys, but bear in mind that even with well-engineered frames that transfer weight to the hips, the younger Scouts' skeletal structures aren't fully developed, and too much weight (especially if it's carried improperly) can cause ortho problems. The Army historian S.L.A. Marshall wrote a great book in the late '40s called "The Soldier's Load and the Mobility of a Nation". In it, he studied troop effectiveness as pack weight went up, among other things. His research revealed that there was a big dropoff in efficiency and a corresponding increase in troop injuries and fatigue when pack weight went above 47 pounds, other variables notwithstanding. KS

Same lodge, we're all FEC... KS

Captainron; He's going through his Ordeal next week; I'm waiting until after we get settled in at our next home. Our troop does an annual trip to Cheju-do, lasts a week, costs each participant about $100 out of pocket for transportation, lodging, incidentals, and food. We do lots of hiking, mountain stuff, touring, nature study, and service projects, too. Great experience every time... KS

Have you tried using a plastic template that you'd lay over the shirt, then use the template to align the device? There are companies that make commercial versions of those things for military uniforms. But, you can make one for a Scout uniform with a plastic coffee can lid, an exacto knife, and some patience... KS

It's an optimal situation when all the volunteers in direct contact with the Scouts in a unit share the same "world view" when it comes to program delivery and personal preferences. I don't know if that optimal situation exists in any unit; everybody's different and brings their own experiences to the team. So, we all have to make trade-offs, compromises, and meet halfway on some things. When I was a Cubmaster, we had a meeting with the den leaders right before the monthly committee meeting. Although there are program differences of course, the opportunity for all of us to get together as a group without distractors really helped us balance out our efforts and pull in the same direction. Things are different and more complicated with a Troop, but I still try to do that with the ASMs, although now, it's more situational and event-based...driven more by their availability than any other factor. These "stand-up huddles" really help us, but I guess their success is going to be largely dependent on how egalitarian everyone is, mainly the Scoutmaster. Leading our volunteers shouldn't be a dictatorship, but it's not really a democracy either. The "my way or the highway" types have to be prepared to go it alone, literally or figuratively. While the SM's ultimately responsible to the CO for delivering the program, he's got to recognize that nobody has a monopoly on brains, and learn how to enthusiastically use the talents and ideas of all the other leaders, too. Incidentally, I think the willingness to do this is an important element in the success of Venture patrol and NSP activities, too. I honestly haven't met many people who are so resistant to change or insecure that they'd be threatened by delegation and shared leadership... KS

Interesting comment on the temporary patch. I too, got tired of changing them...solved the problem by just sewing the International Activity Patch on the pocket and leaving it there. We've earned the thing three times over through combined camporees with BSK Scouts. It's classy-looking, and balances the uniform nicely. KS

Most of us, left to our own devices, will stick with people and things that are familiar to us, or we think we have something in common with. Conversely, we'll hold at arm's length anything that seems different or unlike us. Racism? Probably not, in most cases. Racial hatred? Certainly not, same rationale. Want an example of different races, ethnic groups, and cultures combining and thriving together? Look no further than our armed forces. It's been that way the whole 26 years I've served. You learn real quick that interdependency, teamwork, and shared goals are color-blind -- and by the way, they also don't care where your grandparents came from, or how you worship God. My kids have always lived, played, and gone to school with kids from all racial, religious, and ethnic groups; many interracial families everywhere we've lived (mine included), and it's not an issue. Everywhere we've lived, a snapshot of the local kids at sports, school, or Scouts always looks like a Benneton ad. It's not strange for us, it's normal. Sometimes I've felt guilty for moving my kids from the U.S. to Asia, to Europe, back to Asia, etc., etc., because they were missing out on what American kids who've never had to move away from their neighborhood have had -- a certain stability. I don't think I'll feel guilty any more. Getting along with other people is natural, unless someone or something makes us un-learn it. KS

"...say the word and I'll quit..."? We call that "falling on your sword". There are a rather small number of situations that would call for that. After all, falling on your sword is very noble, but you can only do it once. Every SM serves at the pleasure of the CO, of course, but there's no positive reason I can think of to offer to quit every time someone disagrees with you. This is not about knives... KS